The Beat’s head is beginning to spin a little bit from the flurry of digital comics announcements that are flying fast and furious in advance of ALA and SDCC. One thing we do know: getting digital comics into libraries is a smart move, and as DC just partnered with Hoopla, so Image Comics has just teamed up with Trajectory, which is an “intelligent network that connects publishers with its global digital distribution network of eBook retailers, libraries, school, and APP distributors. The Trajectory network delivers 300+ international points of distribution representing over 230,000+ digital endpoints including every relevant eBook retailer, library distributor, school distributor, and alternative digital sales channel all from a single on-boarding point. Trajectory has recently invented a series of algorithms that are being used to address the “Book Discoverability” issue facing international publishing.”
Okay then! I’ll wait for Todd or Bruce to explain what that means, but in the meantime, I do know Trajectory previously partnered with Diamond to offer digital conversion (at a Chinese facility that sounds like something from a James Bond movie).

It seems that the era of the digital “Exclusive” is over, and many publishers are heeding the advice offered by IDW’s Ted Adams, himself a digital early adapter, namely, sign up for as many services as possible and stick with the ones that worked. Comixology ascended in the earliest versions of this strategy, and they’ve yet to be unseated.

Today—only days before the Annual American Library Association Conference—Trajectory, Inc. and Image Comics announce a major global digital distribution agreement. The partnership will allow Image Comics to further expand its global digital footprint to libraries in North America and internationally—including the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, India, and South American markets—throughout the Trajectory network. “It is very exciting for Trajectory to be working with Image Comics,” said Scott Beatty, co-founder and Chief Content Officer at Trajectory, Inc. “As one of the largest comic book publishers in North America with well-known series such as Spawn, The Walking Dead, and Saga, Image will be well positioned for additive global distribution via the Trajectory network. We are delighted to be making these books known to customers in all corners of the globe. In particular, we are pleased to provide exposure to the library marketplace where there has been great demand for the Image digital catalog.” Trajectory has the largest known global network for eBook distribution. The network delivers 300+ international points of distribution representing over 230,000+ digital endpoints including every relevant eBook retailer, library distributor, school distributor, and alternative digital sales channel all from a single on-boarding point. Through a single on-boarding site maintained by Trajectory, publishers can simply upload their files and designate where they would like the digital edition of their titles distributed.
“Image Comics is really thrilled about bringing the creators we publish to new markets abroad via digital distribution partners like Xaomi in China, and returning to US based digital book outlets like Barnes & Noble,” added Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Even more so, it’s great that we’ll be reaching new readers in libraries through services like Hoopla and Overdrive.”
“We’ve identified a significant amount of demand around the world for English language comics. Comics are a key component of pop culture and the world has its eyes on America,” said Jim Bryant, Trajectory CEO. “We are delighted to be delivering Image Comics around the world for consumers to view and interact with on their phones and tablets.”

Heidi MacDonald is the founder and editor in chief of The Beat. In the past, she worked for Disney, DC Comics, Fox and Publishers Weekly. She can be heard regularly on the More To Come Podcast. She likes coffee, cats and noble struggle.